Discussion

I noticed that many of the French responses were concerned with the environment and the importance for a clean planet. However, I was recently in Paris and I couldn't help but notice the large amount of dog poop on sidewalks in very populated areas. Most American cities have large fines for leaving dog poop on public sidewalks and therefore, one rarely encounters poop in the middle of the sidewalk. Does this not exist in France? Is cleaning up after your animal seen differently than littering? In my opinion, I would much rather walk past a coke can than a pile of dog feces, and i would most certainly rather step on the can. What is your opinion on this issue? Is animal waste seen differently than other types of trash?

I find it interesting that many of the French students responded about the person littering (that he/she is irrespectful, rude, inconsiderate, etc.). A few Americans, but much less, responded similarly; most Americans just mentioned the specific action they would take, i.e., to pick it up or keep walking. I think this is interesting psychologically, as it reflects a strong difference in terms of our cultures. Americans, for whatever reason, seem to judge other people a little less and to be more concerned with how their own actions will be perceived by others. When someone gives us a scenario like this one, our first reaction is not a general critique of the situation, but rather a statement of what we would immediately do.

Do people feel strongly about environmentalism in France? The few times I have met and interacted closely with Europeans (at least Western Europeans) they have told me about how they were appalled by the lack of environmentalist sentiment in America (or at least, in Oklahoma, where I am from). People in general don't recycle and don't worry a whole lot about CO2 emissions and other issues there. Is recycling very big in Europe? Is it economical?